Did you know that Young Living™ Essential Oils has a line of essential oil blends created specifically for kids?! And it happens to be one of my favorite product lines....Why, Elissa, you don't have kids...hmmmm? Guess what?!
The essential oil blends are mild and pre-diluted, making them perfect to use with horses and dogs, and I have a lot of 4 legged kids :) Let's chat how I use Young Livings™ KidScents® line with my horses and dogs....(if ya need help just getting started using essential oils, download my free PDF guides.... click HERE FOR HORSES and HERE FOR DOGS)
By the way, I am an independent Distributor of Young Living™ and the opinions expressed in this blog post are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of Young Living™. Young Living™ does not endorse, is not responsible for, and makes no representations or warranties regarding such content or its accuracy.
Hands down , my favorite is SleepyIze™ ....a blend containing Lavender, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Tangerine, Bergamot, Sacred Frankincense™, Valerian, Rue, and diluted with Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from coconut oil). The name says it all, when you think sleep, what comes to mind... for me-anything and all things calm, relaxed, peaceful, quiet, tranquil, serene...you get the idea!
Since it's pre-diluted, I will often just add a drop to my hand, rub my hands together, and then pet my dog along the spine. My dogs are all 'seasoned oilers' tho... so if you are just starting out, you may want to add a drop of carrier oil to that drop as well. If you need more info on carrier oils, click HERE.
If you are just starting out using essential oils with your dog, you will also want to wear it as a perfume first, to get your dog used to the aroma. Then start using it before you need calm and relaxation. You'll want to anchor it in to a positive experience with your dog, by diffusing it in a diffuser or wearing it as a perfume, during cuddle time or play time. That way when you use it in times if dire need, it can bring back the emotions of that positive experience. Check out my other blog HERE where we chat more in depth on using essential oils to help calm your dog.
Kidpower™ is my close runner up...it's a blend of Orange, Vanilla Oleoresin, Black Spruce, Cinnamon, Camphor, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Geranium, and diluted with Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from coconut oil). To me, it smells like 'orange creamsicle', returning me to fun filled kid days and the ice cream truck-remember those-haha!
I will often use it instead of Valor™ during times when my scared chi's seem to be having a meltdown...think thunderstorms, fireworks, roofing guys....several of my dogs seem to prefer it when I offer Valor™ in one hand and KidPower™ in the other.
What's the difference between KidPower™ and SleepyIze™? Well, other than the list of essential oils used to make each blend-lol...I tend to reach for SleepyIze™ when I'm after calmness and relaxation by itself. If I feel like I (or my dogs and horses) need some emotional support for confidence as well as calmness and balance, I'll reach for the KidPower™. See what your horse or dog prefers tho, and pick that way! I simply hold one in my left hand and one in my right hand...then I hold them out to my horse or dog...whichever one they lean into...use it...I've even had horses try and grab bottles out of my hands, so hang on! The dogs seem to be much more polite about it...oftentimes closing their eyes sniffing and pausing at the hand that has their preferred.
I also find this blend to be especially helpful to my horses before a training session. I think it promotes calmness and helps with focus...if you have a horse that gets distracted easily or is spooky, I would give it a try. I wear it as a perfume before I head to the barn....horses have many more scent receptors than we do and if you can smell it, they definitely can smell it. If you need some extra 'oomph' , I add a drop to my hands, rub my hands together, and then offer my hands to my horse to inhale first for as long as they want. Then I usually comb thru the mane with the residue on my hands.
This blend is listed as photosensitive, which means it can increase sensitivity of skin to light. It is diluted tho, and you are not applying much, and even tho it will work its way down the hair shaft to the skin, you have the mane protection. I live in sunny, Tucson, Az., and haven't had a problem applying it this way. Every horse is different tho, so if you have any concerns, or your horse is new to essential oils, or a sensitive red head...rub the excess under your shirt. You don't need to apply it topically. Remember horses have a good sense of smell, and if you wear it as a perfume, you'll both benefit. Wearing it as a perfume can help us be calm and confident leaders for our horses....which leads to calm and relaxed horses.
TummyGize™ consists of Spearmint, Peppermint, Tangerine, Anise, Fennel, Cardamom, Ginger, and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. I think the name says it all-haha! I will add a drop to my hand, rub my hands together, and massage my dogs or horses abdomen with this blend. I always offer to let them smell it beforehand as well. Remember, essential oils are tiny molecules that affect us systemically even when we only inhale them!
Owie™ should be in everyones first aid kit. It consists of Balsam Fir, Tea Tree, Helichrysum, Elemi, Cistus, Hinoki, Clove, and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
According to Young Living™ "this comforting, reassuring blend naturally soothes, has an aroma that is calming in times of distress, and features premium essential oils that support the appearance of healthy-looking skin."
Just like with TummyGize™, the name says it all. My horses are always getting into mischief! When I find superficial scuffles and scrapes, I reach for this. I drop it directly on the area after cleaning off with some soap and water, if needed. Any minor irritations get some of this applied to them as well. My dogs, being inside couch potatoes, hardly ever need this essential oil blend. Thank goodness, haha, as my horses make up for it!
SniffleEase™ consists of Eucalyptus Blue, Palo Santo, Lavender, Dorado Azul, Camphor, Eucalyptus Globulus, Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Eucalyptus Radiata, Eucalyptus Citriodora, Cypress, Black spruce, Peppermint, and Caprylic/capric triglyceride.
According to Young Living™ "SniffleEase has an aroma that helps ease feelings of discomfort and supports the feeling of normal, clear breathing."
Living in a hot, dry, and oftentimes dusty, environment, I like to use this with my horses as a preventative. I'll apply it to their chests a couple of times a week by simply dropping few drops in my palm, rubbing my palms together and then massaging in, always letting them inhale the aroma first for as long as they want. (See a pattern yet-lol)
GeneYus™ last but not least...this blend is great for calm and focused energy when working with our dogs and horses. Containing Sacred Frankincense™, Blue Cypress, Cedarwood, Idaho Blue Spruce, Palo Santo, Melissa, Northern Lights Black Spruce™, Bergamot, Myrrh, Vetiver, Geranium, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood™, Ylang Ylang, Hyssop, Coriander, Rose, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, and also Sweet Almond oil.
I find that this can really promote concentration and calm, focused energy with the horses. One of my driving ponies can tend to have 'squirrel syndrome'. When I use this blend before a training session, I've definitely noticed a difference with his attention span.
It contains some powerhouse essential oils like Vetiver, Cedarwood, and Frankincense that are known for relaxation and calm. According to a study on PubMed.gov, sedative effects of inhaled cedrol, a main component of Cedarwood oil, had findings that "indicate that cedrol inhalation had marked sedative effects regardless of the animal species". Vetiver has a few studies on Pubmed.gov using Vetiver as aromatherapy for relaxation in rats and comparing anti-anxiety abilities of Vetiver with Diazepam.
I like to swap back and forth using this and then KidPower™, just so things don't get boring-haha. I personally prefer the aroma of KidPower™, so I tend to use it more. Also several of my dogs seem to prefer KidPower™ as well....when in doubt about what to use...ask your dog or horse...they'll let ya know!
So if you are looking for some great essential oil blends to use with your dogs and horses, give the KidScents® product line a try!
If you need help using essential oils with your horses, check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
